Gas appliance controlling system and method

ABSTRACT

A method stores multiple sets of consecutive images of a burner, determines a number of unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images, and determines a threshold number of the unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images for determining whether or not the burner works abnormally. When the burner is turned on, the method sends a first control signal to turn on a camera and receives a set of real-time consecutive images of the burner captured by the camera. The method determines whether or not a number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is less than the threshold number. If the number is equal to or more than the threshold number, the burner works abnormally and a security device connected to the burner is turned off to prevent gas from flowing to the burner.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to device controlling systems and methods, and particularly to a gas appliance controlling system and method.

2. Description of related art

Gas appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, and gas logs, must be connected to a flue vented to the outdoors and have an adequate air supply. If vents, flues, or chimneys are not kept clean and in good repair, fuel gas may not fully combust, resulting in an accumulation of carbon monoxide or an explosion and causing an emergency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are block diagrams of one embodiment of a hardware configuration of a gas appliance controlling system.

FIG. 2 illustrates two states of a security device of the gas appliance controlling system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of function modules of the gas appliance controlling system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates different burning states of the gas appliance controlling system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate consecutive images of the gas appliance controlling system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a set of consecutive images of the gas appliance controlling system in FIG. 1, where the images are captured when a burner of the gas appliance controlling system fails to be lit up.

FIG. 8 illustrates a set of consecutive images of the gas appliance controlling system in FIG. 1, where the images are captured when the burner of the gas appliance controlling system fails to keep burning after being lit up.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a gas appliance controlling method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

In general, the word “module”, as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CDs, DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, and hard disk drives.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are block diagrams of one embodiment of a hardware configuration of a gas appliance controlling system 1 (hereinafter “the system 1”). As shown in FIG. 1A, an interior part of the system 1 includes a water tank 10, a lighter 20, a burner 30, a gas adjuster 40, and a security device 50. The interior part of the system 1 further includes a hot water outlet pipe 60, a gas pipe 70, and a tap water inlet pipe 80, all of which extend to an exterior part of the system 1. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1A, the interior part of the system 1 further includes a camera 90, a microprocessor 100, and a storage device 110. As shown in FIG. 1B, the exterior part of the system 1 includes a fire window 120, a power supply 130, and an alarm device 140. Gas flows into the burner 30 through the gas pipe 70. Water (e.g., tap water) flows into the water tank 10 through the water inlet pipe 80. The lighter 20 lights up the gas in the burner 30 to heat the tap water in the water tank 10. Hot water flows from the water tank 10 to other water supply device (e.g., a shower) through the hot water outlet pipe 60. The power supply 130 supplies power to the system 1. The fire window allows a user to see a burning state of the burner 30.

The camera 90 captures images of the burner 30. The camera 90 is set at an appropriate location to prevent fire from the burner 30 influencing normal operation of the camera 90. In other embodiments, the microprocessor 100 and the storage device 110 are set at the exterior part of the system 1. The gas adjuster 40 and the security device 50 are located on the gas pipe 70. The gas adjuster 40 controls an amount of gas flowing from the gas pipe 70 to the burner 30. The security device 50 turns on or turns off the gas flow from the gas pipe 70.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the security device 50 is in an “On” state, gas from the gas pipe 70 flows to the burner 30. When the security device 50 is in an “Off” state, gas from the gas pipe 70 is prevented from flowing to the burner 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage device 110 stores sample images 111 of different burning states of the burner 30. The system 1 includes a storage module 112, an analysis module 113, and a control module 114. The modules 112-114 include computerized code in the form of one or more programs. The computerized code is stored in the storage device 110, and the microprocessor executes the computerized code, to provide functions of the modules 112-114 as described below.

The sample images 111 are pre-stored in the storage device 110. The camera 90 captures a plurality of sets of consecutive images relating to different burning states of the burner 30, such as a strong heat state, a moderate heat state, a gentle heat state, and an unburned state, as shown in FIG. 4. The sample images 111 include at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 works normally and at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 works abnormally. Each set of consecutive images includes a predetermined number “n” (e.g., n=ten) of images captured within a time duration (e.g., 1 second). FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate a set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 works normally. FIG. 7 illustrates a set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 fails to be lit by the lighter 20. FIG. 8 illustrates a set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 fails to keep burning after being lit by the lighter 20.

The analyze module 113 analyzes the sample images, determines an amount of images in relation to unburned states of the burner 30 (hereinafter “unburned-state images”) in each set of consecutive images, and determines a threshold of the number of the unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images for determining whether or not the burner 30 works abnormally. For example, if the analyze module 113 determines that the unburned-state images occur at least six times in each set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 works abnormally (or the analyze module 113 determines that the number of unburned-state images captured in each set of consecutive images when the burner 30 works normally is less than six), the analyze module 113 determines that the threshold number of unburned-state images for determining that the burner 30 works abnormally is six.

In one embodiment, an unburned-state image is defined as an image having an average gray value of pixels less than a predetermined value. A gray value of pixels ranges from 0 to 255, The predetermined value can be 10 or 20, for example.

The control module 114 sends a first control signal to start the camera 90 in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner 30 when the burner 30 is turned on. When the camera 90 is started, the camera 90 captures real-time consecutive images of the burner 30. The analyze module 113 analyzes the real-time consecutive images and determines whether or not the burner 30 works normally by determining if a number of unburned-state images in the real-time consecutive images is equal to or more than the threshold. If the analysis module 113 determines that the burner 30 works abnormally, the control module 114 sends a second control signal to turn off the security device 50 to prevent gas from flowing to the burner 30. The control module 114 then sends a third control signal to trigger the alarm device 140 to sound an alarm. The alarm device 140 may be a blazer, or a speaker, for example.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a gas appliance controlling method. Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps may be changed.

In step S10, the storage module 112 pre-stores sample images of the burner 30 in the storage device 110. As mentioned above, the sample images include at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 works normally and at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner 30 works abnormally. Each set of consecutive images includes a predetermined number n (e.g., n=ten) of images captured within a time duration (e.g., 1 second). For example, the camera 90 may be set to capture ten images every 1 second. It is noted that, after the sample images are created and the burner 30 is not turned on, the camera 90 is turned off.

In step S20, the analyze module 113 analyzes the sample images, determines a number of unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images of the sample images, and determines a threshold number of unburned-state images for determining whether or not the burner 30 works abnormally.

In step S30, the control module 114 sends a first control signal to turn on the camera 90 in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner 30 when the burner 30 is turned on.

When the camera 90 is started, the camera 90 captures a set of real-time consecutive images of the burner 30.

In step S40, the analyze module 113 receives the set of real-time consecutive images of the burner 30.

In step S50, the analyze module 113 analyzes the set of real-time consecutive images of the burner 30 to determine a number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images.

In step S60, the analyze module 113 determines whether or not the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is less than the threshold number. If the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is less than the threshold number, the analyze module 113 determines that the burner 30 works normally, and the procedure returns to step S40. Otherwise, if the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is equal to or more than the threshold, the procedure goes to step S70.

In step S70, the analyze module 113 determines that the burner 30 works abnormally. The control module 114 sends a second control signal to turn off the security device 50 to prevent gas from flowing to the burner 30.

In step S80, the control module 114 sends a third control signal to trigger the alarm device 140 to send out an alarm. In one embodiment, the control module 114 further sends a fourth control signal to turn off the camera 90 in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner 30 when the burner 30 is turned off.

Although certain disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure have been specifically described, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas appliance controlling method being executed by a microprocessor of a gas appliance controlling system, the method comprising storing sample images of a burner in a storage device, wherein the sample images comprise at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner works normally and at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner works abnormally; determining a number of unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images, and determining a threshold number of the unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images; sending a first control signal to turn on a camera in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner when the burner is turned on; receiving a set of real-time consecutive images of the burner captured by the camera; determining a number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images; in response to determining that the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is less than the threshold number, determining that the burner works normally; and in response to determining that the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is equal to or more than the threshold number, determining that the burner works abnormally, and sending a second control signal to turn off a security device connected to the burner, to prevent gas from flowing to the burner.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each set of consecutive images comprise a predetermined number of images captured within a time duration.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unburned-state images are defined as images of the burner which are captured when the burner is in an unburned state.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an average gray value of pixels of an unburned-state image is less than a predetermined value.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: sending a third control signal to trigger an alarm device to send out an alarm in response to determining that the burner works abnormally.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: sending a fourth control signal to turn off the camera in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner when the burner if turned off.
 7. A gas appliance controlling system, comprising: a microprocessor; and a storage device that stores one or more programs, when executed by the microprocessor, causing the microprocessor to perform operations: storing sample images of a burner in the storage device, wherein the sample images comprise at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner works normally and at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner works abnormally; determining a number of unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images, and determining a threshold number of the unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images; sending a first control signal to turn on a camera in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner when the burner is turned on; receiving a set of real-time consecutive images of the burner captured by the camera; determining a number of unburned-state images occurred in the set of real-time consecutive images; in response to determining that the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is less than the threshold, determining that the burner works normally; and in response to determining that the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is equal to or more than the threshold, determining that the burner works abnormally, and sending a second control signal to turn off a security device connected to the burner, to prevent gas from flowing to the burner.
 8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each set of consecutive images comprise a predetermined number of images captured within a time duration.
 9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the unburned-state images are defined as images of the burner which are captured when the burner is in an unburned state.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein an average gray value of pixels of an unburned-state image is less than a predetermined value.
 11. The system as claimed in claim 7, where the operations further comprise: sending a third control signal to trigger an alarm device to send out an alarm in response to determining that the burner works abnormally.
 12. The system as claimed in claim 7, where the operations further comprise: sending a fourth control signal to turn off the camera in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner when the burner is turned off.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a microprocessor of a gas appliance controlling system, causing the microprocessor to perform operations: storing sample images of a burner in the storage device, wherein the sample images comprise at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner works normally and at least one set of consecutive images captured when the burner works abnormally; determining a number of unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images, and determining a threshold number of the unburned-state images in each set of consecutive images; sending a first control signal to turn on a camera in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner when the burner is turned on; receiving a set of real-time consecutive images of the burner captured by the camera; determining a number of unburned-state images occurred in the set of real-time consecutive images; in response to determining that the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is less than the threshold, determining that the burner works normally; and in response to determining that the number of unburned-state images in the set of real-time consecutive images is equal to or more than the threshold, determining that the burner works abnormally, and sending a second control signal to turn off a security device connected to the burner, to prevent gas from flowing to the burner.
 14. The medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein each set of consecutive images comprise a predetermined number of images captured within a time duration.
 15. The medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the unburned-state images are defined as images of the burner which are captured when the burner is in an unburned state.
 16. The medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein an average gray value of pixels of an unburned-state image is less than a predetermined value.
 17. The medium as claimed in claim 13, where the operations further comprise: sending a third control signal to trigger an alarm device to send out an alarm in response to determining that the burner works abnormally.
 18. The medium as claimed in claim 13, where the operations further comprise: sending a fourth control signal to turn off the camera in response to receiving a trigger signal from the burner when the burner is turned off. 